Gate latch



United States Patent 2,703,730 GATE LATCH Holver Sersland, Decorah, Iowa Application May 21, 1954, Serial No. 431,369 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-340) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in latching mechanisms and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a movable gate post part, a fixed gate part and novel and improved means for actuating the movable gate post to a locked position relative to the fixed gate part as the gate is pivoted to a closed position.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a gate latch including a gate post part having a pivotal locking member which is quickly and readily actuated to a locked position and embodying novel and improved means for retaining the pivotal locking member in a latched position until manually released.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gate latching mechanism that is small and compact in structure and which is conveniently applied to or removed from a gate construction in a minimum time.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a gate latch of the aforementioned character that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a gate construction and showing the present gate latch applied thereto in a locked or latched position;

Figure 2 is a similar view of Figure 1, and showing the present gate latch in an open or unlatched position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of broken section line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral represents the gate post part of the present gate latch generally which is applied to a gate post 12. This gate post part 10 includes a pivot post 12 by a pair of eye elements 16 that are removably secured to the gate post 12.

Pivotally secured on the pivot post 14, are the eye ends 18 of a substantially U-shaped locking member 20 which is formed with a bearing leg 22 for a purpose which will later be more fully apparent. Integrally formed with the eye ends 18 of the locking member 20, are the ends of a substantially U-shaped actuating element or contact element 24.

Removably secured to the gate post 12, by fasteners or the like 26, is an angulated anchor plate 28 which terminates in an arcuate cam 30 having upwardly inclined and converging edges 32 and 34. The free reduced end 36 of the arcuate cam 30 is removably secured to the gate post 12. The shank portion of an eye member 38 is adjustably secured to the cam 30 and the eye end (not shown) of this eye member 38 embraces the pivot post 14 so that the arcuate cam 30 may be adjusted slightly.

Adjustably secured on the threaded end 40 of the pivot post 14 is a nut 42. Loosely embracing the pivot post 14 is a coil spring 44 which is biased between the upper leg 46 of the locking member 20 and the upper of the eye elements 16 to normally retain the locking member 20 in a lower position. The bearing leg 22 of the locking 2,703,730 Patented Mar. 8, 1955 member 20 frictionally engages the inclined edge 32 of the cam 30 as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The numeral 48 represents the gate engaging member that is used in conjunction with the present invention, and which is removably secured by fasteners 50 to a gate 52. One end 54 of the gate engaging member 48 projects outwardly from the free end 56 of the gate 52 and is formed with a rounded outer surface 58, an inner notch 60, and an outer notch 62 in its inner surface.

In practical use of the present invention, as the gate 52 is pivoted to a closed position, the inner notch 60 receives the contact member 24 so as the gate is further pivoted, the locking member 20 will be pivoted toward the surface 58 and simultaneously the bearing leg 22 thereof rides on the edge 32 with the spring 44 in compression and then rides downwardly on the edge 34 under tension from the spring 44 so that the locking member 20 will frictionally engage a locking groove 66 formed in the surface 58, as shown best in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. The locking member 20 is moved manually to its unlocked position so that during the closing of the gate it will again be actuated to its locked position.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A locking mechanism comprising a substantially U- shaped locking member including upper and lower horizontal leg portions and a vertical web portion joining said leg portions, a vertical pivot extending through the leg portions of said locking member and slidably and rotatably supporting the locking member, a contact member integrally formed with said locking member and including a rod paralleling said web portion, and a cam slidably supporting the lower leg portion of said locking member and imparting vertical sliding movement to said locking member as the locking member is rotated, said locking member adapted to be rotated by a structural element engaging said rod.

2. A locking mechanism comprising a vertical pivot, a U-shaped locking member having upper and lower legs and a web joining said legs, said pivot extending through said legs and slidably and rotatably supporting said locking member, a U-shaped contact member having upper and lower legs attached to the upper and lower legs of said locking member and a web paralleling the web of said locking member, a cam underlying said locking member and having first and second upwardly converging edges for selectively engaging the lower leg of said locking member, and spring means on said pivot and urging the lower leg of said locking member toward said cam, the web of said contact member being adapted for engaging a structural element when the lower leg of said locking member is supported upon the second edge of said cam, and said locking member being rotated and axially displaced as its lower leg rides upwardly on the second edge of said cam and downwardly upon the first edge of said cam whereby the locking member will confine a structural element engaging the contact member within the U-shaped locking member.

3. A locking mechanism comprising a vertical pivot having an upper threaded end, a U-shaped locking member adapted to receive a keeper therein, said locking member including upper and lower horizontal leg portions and a vertical web portion joining said upper and lower leg portions, said leg portions having registering eyes receiving said pivot for rotation and sliding movement of said locking member on said pivot, a cam underlying said locking member and having an apex and first and second upwardly converging edges meeting at said apex, the lower-leg portion of said locking member selectively riding upon said first and second edges, a vertical contact bar carried by said locking member, an abutment threaded on the upper end of said pivot, and a spring embracing said pivot and biased between said abutment and said upper leg portion for yieldingly urging said locking member toward said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 538,078 Kerler Apr. 23, 1895 582,039 Campbell May 4, 1897 998,138 Watrous July 18, 1911 

